UltimateDisney.com/DVDizzy.com Reviews: Discussion Thread

[Escapay]

Thanks, Escapay, for the fantastic Secret of NIMH review. It's great to see others' appreciation for this fine film. It's a shame the new transfer isn't what it could have been, but I'll buy this anyway, since my current copy is the original 1998 release. I'll take slight improvement over no improvement at all. I am very pleased to see that both aspect ratios are included on this release. That's something that I've been vocal about on this forum in regards to animated films that were drawn this way.

Thanks, carter. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the film, and when I first mentioned the title's release to Lukester, I remember saying something like "it's a non-Disney title I'm sure UD readers would be interested in".

(And I'm really bad at replying to review feedbacks for stuff I did, mainly because I never really knosw what to say, and because I do less reviews than Aaron and Lukester. So for the few-and-far-between feedback to my few-and-far-between other reviews, thanks you guys!)

Looking forward to Terabithia and Winnie the Pooh, though I already have the 25AE!

Escapay

[Escapay]

Really enjoyed your review for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Aaron. I won't need to pick it up since I've got the 25AE, but it was still an excellent read. Have a pink elephant...or maybe it's a pink heffalump...



Escapay

[Ting Ting]

Great work on the Pooh review, Aaron! I'll definitely be picking up this DVD sometime this week. I'm especially excited for "The Story Behind the Masterpiece" featurette! I can't wait to add this to my collection!

I just realized I ended nearly every sentence with an exclamation point. I think someone's a little Pooh-crazy.

[Jules]

Yay! Two great reviews questo giorno!

So, Albert Gutewotever ... do you really think NIMH is a masterpiece? I liked it very much when I finally saw it ... but I'm not sure I'd consider it a masterpiece. Heck, I don't even consider BatB a masterpiece, despite being one of the fab four and everything. I like BatB very much (and I think it's a beautiful film, don't worry). It's just that there are some things about it that annoy me, and so lower its prestige in my eyes. I consider Disney's true masterpiece of the 90s to be either "The Lion King" (even if its one of my least favourite of that decade) or "Hunchback" (which I absolutely love).

Wow. Talk about some digressions.

Aaaaaand Aaron! Great read for the Winnie the Pooh DVD too! I need to see that film again. I got the UK DVD over a year and a half ago and have only watched it once. I need to see it again.

You said in your review that it would be worth upgrading simply for the improved video. In my case, do you think it would be worth the upgrade since I've got other Disney DVDs on my mind right now?

Now, this something I've long wanted to ask:

How do you review your DVDs? What equipment do you use? I expect you must have a good quality LCD or Plasma television. Or will a traditional CRT TV suffice when it comes to analyzing the video quality of a DVD?

What about sound systems? To write an accurate review do you need a top-of-the-range, super hi-end surround system with the speakers alone costing thousands?

Or is a relatively lo-end system costing something like 300$ in all (speakers/wiring/Dolby Digital/DTS Decoder) good enough?

Of course, then there are the really cheap systems costing only about 90$ (DVD Player included!) from makes like Hyundai, or the cheapest Samsung system, which will basically be gimmicks - with a microscopic subwoofer and cheap-looking speakers.

As for me, at home I've got a Sony HTS-S600 system, bought almost 2 years ago. It has a power of 600W and is equipped for Dolby Digital and DTS, and also contains some Sony technology in the shape of DCS - Digital Cinema Sound.

It was priced very reasonably 2 years ago at Lm 170 (including VAT) (around 500$).

[Simba3]

Hey Aaron, just wanted to let you know I read your review for the Friendship Edition of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and I really enjoyed it. I picked up the movie on my way home from work and watched it already. Granted, I don't own any of the other releases of this film, but I would totally agree with you about the vibrant colors. I was a little surprised at how bright and colorful the film looked. Great review of this wonderful Disney classic.

[AwallaceUNC]

You said in your review that it would be worth upgrading simply for the improved video. In my case, do you think it would be worth the upgrade since I've got other Disney DVDs on my mind right now?

Now, this something I've long wanted to ask:

How do you review your DVDs? What equipment do you use? I expect you must have a good quality LCD or Plasma television. Or will a traditional CRT TV suffice when it comes to analyzing the video quality of a DVD?

Thanks, JC! I do hope you get to watch it again soon. I really enjoyed revisiting it.

When I'm reviewing a DVD, I have many different home video set-ups at my disposal. Depending on what I'm reviewing and how accessible the different set-ups are at the time, I consult several but almost always more than one. I have equipment ranging from decent players/CRT TVs/audio systems to high-end players/projectors/LCD/Plasma/etc. and multiple computers and displays as well, all capable of Dolby Digital and DTS. I have no doubt that I am not as well-supplied with electronics as the videophiles and audiophiles of the world, but UD also does not cater to video/audiophiles. I feel comfortable that my equipment resources are more than adequate for sufficiently appraising audio and video.

As for your question about whether the DVD is personally worth an upgrade for you. I wrote this in the Pooh thread, but I'll repeat it here:

Of course, everyone who is making purchase decisions has to also consider how interested they are in a particular movie, where it ranks on their "to-buy list", and how much money they have to dispose of. Only you can decide if you "should" buy a new disc, based on the information we supply you in our reviews. The reviews just tell you whether the DVD is "worth it" if you have the interest and the available money. I have no doubt that many people will be fine with keeping their 25AE, but those who are interested in upgrading do have a valid reason for doing so.

If <i>Pooh</i> isn't very high on your priority list, then you can live just fine with your 25AE.

-Aaron

[Escapay]

So, Albert Gutewotever ... do you really think NIMH is a masterpiece? I liked it very much when I finally saw it ... but I'm not sure I'd consider it a masterpiece. Heck, I don't even consider BatB a masterpiece, despite being one of the fab four and everything. I like BatB very much (and I think it's a beautiful film, don't worry). It's just that there are some things about it that annoy me, and so lower its prestige in my eyes. I consider Disney's true masterpiece of the 90s to be either "The Lion King" (even if its one of my least favourite of that decade) or "Hunchback" (which I absolutely love).

Wow. Talk about some digressions.

I like to consider it a masterpiece among the whole of Bluth's work, in that future films have been just as or more impressive as NIMH, but most don't make quite the same impact on its viewers as NIMH did.

As for the equipment I use, it's limited to my eyes and ears.

Actually, I use my laptop primarily for regular viewing, but will compare how the DVD looks and sounds on both my family's bigscreen television (from about 1997 or so) and on regular TVs (I've got a 13-inch tv in my room, and Kram's got a 20-inch in his room that I consult occasionally).

Escapay

[AwallaceUNC]

Hey Aaron, just wanted to let you know I read your review for the Friendship Edition of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and I really enjoyed it. I picked up the movie on my way home from work and watched it already. Granted, I don't own any of the other releases of this film, but I would totally agree with you about the vibrant colors. I was a little surprised at how bright and colorful the film looked. Great review of this wonderful Disney classic.

Thank you very much also, Simba3, as well as Escapay and Prince Ali. Glad you've already had a chance to dig in and enjoy it.

I think someone's a little Pooh-crazy.

Try letting the menu loop the instrumental "Pooh" theme over and over while you write a review and you'll know all about feeling Pooh-crazy.

-Aaron

[Jules]

Oooh! Nice meaty replies Ronny 'n Bertie!

Aaron, I see your variety of TVs makes perfect sense when it comes to reviewing DVDs. I expect you'd want to see what one movie will look like on modern LCD TV, and what it looks like on an older CRT TV. After all, different consumers have different types of TVs, so viewing the DVD on different types enables you to formulate a general analysis/conclusion on the apparent video quality.

My eldest brother has a 32-inch HD-Ready LCD TV (Sharp Aquos). He has a regular DVD player hooked up via RGB scart. The TV does accept component video, which I believe is superior in quality to scart, but the player does not provide it. Anyways ... ever since he got it I've always realized that although the colours are beautiful and the image loses some of the distortions and bending and all the stuff you get on traditional CRT TVs, it's nowhere near as sharp as my 29-inch CRT TV at home. Moreover, shortcomings in the video quality of a DVD seem to be amplified on the LCD screen.

I've come to the conclusion that the lack of definition of the picture emanates from the now lacking resolution of standard DVD video. I guess whwereas DVD video looks fine on a standard CRT set, its limitations are exposed on an LCD/Plasma set. If so, then DVD Video can never really look that good on an LCD/Plasma screen, can it?

For example, can it be compared to how the full-motion video (FMV) clips of old PlayStation (PSOne) games looked fine on CRT TVs, but when the games were ported to PC, and used the same video resolution (somewhere around 300x300 pixels), they looked terrible on a high quality PC monitor? (Think of the Final Fantasy VII PC port from the PlayStation).

Anyway, I'm glad you answered my question, because I've been very curious about this for a long time. Thank you!

BTW, Escapee, I once remember you saying that you don't have much of an ear for audio.

[carter1971]

Let me also add my thanks for the great Pooh review, Aaron. Since the previous version was one of the few Disney DVD's I missed out on (still trying to figure out how that happened) this was a no-brainer purchase for me, but I love reading UD's reviews anyway. A few days ago, another DVD site posted a review of this claiming it was the same transfer as the 25th Aniversary Edition. It's nice to see that reviewers at UD put the time and effort into these reviews and get them right. Much appreciated!

I would like to advise readers that I got this and Bridge to Terabithia at Wal-Mart on my way home from work today. Both were on sale for $14.99, but did not have the $6 coupon. I don't know if this will be the case at all Wal-Marts.

[Escapay]

BTW, Escapee, I once remember you saying that you don't have much of an ear for audio.

I don't, in that I don't really care how it sounds so long as I can hear it. An action film can have one-channel mono for all I care, but I gotta be able to still differentiate between what sounds like a good/even mix to what sounds like a bad mix, along with any noise and pops and whatnot that shouldn't be in there. So, in other words, I have an ear for audio, but only when I need it.

Escapay

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Great job on the "Pooh" review! I bought it yesterday, but I haven't a chance to watch it. What would UD be without reviewers like you?!

Anyway, when will the "Bridge" review be up? (even though I already have it.)

[Dottie]

Aaron: Good job on the Pooh Review. As you've said I think the upgrade is not really worth it, if your not an audio/video quality maniac.

Escapay: Amazing job on NIMH. I first saw Mrs. Brisby when my mom taped it for me in like 1992 and it is still one of my favorite movies, and I am glad you enjoyed it.
It's sad that the new edition is not as good as it could have been, but I might still consider a double-dip, since I am really interested in the audio commentary and the featurette.

[Simba3]

I just finished reading the review for Bridge to Terabithia and it has definately captured my attention. When I first got wind of the movie, both the title and the premise of the story seemed vaguely familiar, I think I may have "read" the book in junior high school. I almost purchased the DVD yesterday while I was buying The Manny Adventures of Winnie the Pooh because of the savings when you buy both. However, a lack of money and the realization that I should probably watch the movie before I buy it, prompted me to hold off on the purchase. I really enjoyed this review though and I think Terabithia sounds like a cute move. I will definately be renting it soon.

[James]

Okay, just read a few reviews in a row, and they were all really great. Wonderful review of Winnie the Pooh Aaron, really nice. It's great that you put all the history of Pooh in it, I find all that stuff interesting in these reviews. Also, great review of Bridge to Terabithia Luke. I wanted to see it, and reading that review just cemented how much I wanted to see it. Good to know how nice it is. I wasn't expecting such a great reccomendation. Oh, and fantastic review of Ratatouille Luke. It's fantastic to read upcoming film reviews, and since we in Australia won't get it for a while, it's good to know about it. I'm interested in seeing it, I haven't seen Cars, but this one interests me, so I'll probably see it. It's great knowing how it stacks up against the other Pixar films, so thanks for reviewing it so thoroughly. Oh and nice guide to the tie-in items. Even though I won't buy any of them, it's nice seeing the products used in the marketing campaign for it. Great work guys, I can't wait for the AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson interviews!
-James

[Dottie]

Good job on Ratatouille, Luke. It's good to see a review that doesn't just say: "It's Pixar, it's cute, it's great!"
I am really excited to see this movie, and the trailer was the only one for a Pixar movie that I liked, but still I am glad you didn't rave about it as others critics have.

[Luke]

Thanks for the latest posts of feedback that have come in since my last acknowledgement. I really appreciate hearing readers' thoughts on these reviews.

[James]

You're welcome Luke. Just read the last two recent Disney Channel related reviews, great job Aaron and Albert. Aaron, the HSM- The Concert was great, I really wanted to know about it, and the review provided good info on everything. Good to hear that the U Direct thing is worth it. And Albert, good to hear about the upcoming romance in Hannah Montana. I'm watching the first season here in Australia, and it's starting to grate with me, so it's good to hear that the romance is at least passable. Hopefully they make season sets soon for more DC shows, it's sucky that these compilations are being released, when the season sets would sell so much better! After they've released all these crappy discs, the market will be gone for season sets. It sucks. Anyway, great reviews, guys, was looking forward to them, and really enjoyed them.
-James

[Pluto Region1]

Although it is not signed i can tell it is Luke who wrote the very heartfelt review of the new Pixar "rat" film. Wonderful job Luke. I love how you always treat the subject with a fair hand, even if you don't necessarily like the film. I haven't seen it yet, but hopefully this week I will get to.

[AwallaceUNC]

I really liked your <i>Driving Lessons</i> review, Luke... you really took the perfect angle on it. I'm pleased that Rupert Grint successfully Weasleyed his way out of his <i>Harry Potter</i> role and that you found the film so enjoyable. I've been curious about it and will now definitely be checking it out. A very engrossing read -- thanks!

-Aaron